Curtain stretcher



, Jan. 9, 1934. Q U 1,942,821

CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed June 10, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED SATES 1,942,821 CURTAIN s'ma'ronna Albert C. Kulp, Chicago, 111., assigncr of one-third to Leonard J. Higgins, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 10, 1932. Serial No. 616,453

5 Claims.

My invention relates to curtain stretchers and the main object is to provide a device in a simple and readily operated form which will efficiently 5 act to stretch curtains and all similar materials.

9 Another object is to provide a curtain stretcher in an exceedingly compact form and which will occupy a minimum of floor space in either com-- mercial or home use and in which the curtain stretching mechanism and frame is so supported that it may be revolved or turned as the curtain is put in place and stretched thus obviating the usual necessity of walkingaround the frame and saving both time and labor.

A further object is to provide a curtain stretcher m in which the stretching elements and curtain supporting frame may be placed in a case which in commercial use may be equipped as a drier for the curtains and in home use may be used as the top of a table or built in the wall or similar installation.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as herein set forth and described,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of the curtain stretcher.

Figure-'2 is an edge view.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a case or housing adapted to hold the stretcher, this view being reduced in scale relative to the showings in Figures l and 2. 1

Figure 4 is an enlarged section along the line 44 in Figure 1.

- Figure 5 is an enlarged section along the line 3% 5-5 in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section along the line 66 in Figure 1.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the operating worm and associated parts.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail of the connecting between the stretcher frame and stand.

Figure 9 is an enlarged section along the line 9--9 in Figure 1.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawings my invention comprises a frame desig is such that the frame 1 may swing or rotate between the legs 8 and on the pivots formed by the bolts 9. Preferably said bolts 9 extend through the sides 2 and 3 at a point nearer the 1 upper end 5 than the lower end 4 as shown. The 0 sides 2 and 3 carry ratchet rings 10 and the legs 8 any similar rings 11 which are disposed concentrically with the bolts 9 and have radially extended serrations or teeth 12 on their meeting faces to afford a frictional connection between the frame and stand and cause said frame to remain in any adjusted position as will be understood. a

The sides 2 and 3 of the frame 1 are slotted longitudinally and medially as at a from a point adjacent their lower ends to a point adjacent the bolts 9 thus forming slideways for guide heads 14 which extend from edge to edge of each of the sides and have shoulders 15 extended in and playing in said slots 13. End stretching bars 16 are secured at their ends to the guide heads 1% and are of such length that they extend fully across and to the outer margins of the sides 2 and 3 of the frame 1. The frame ends l and 5 are slotted longitudinally and medially throughout their entire length as shown at 18 and 19 and four guide heads 20 are provided, two on each end, these guide heads like these described above extending from edge to edge of the said ends and including extended shoulders 21 playing in the slots 18 and 19. It will be noted that the "overall width of the ends 4 and 5 is considerably less than the width of the sides 2 and 3 whereby side stretching bars 22 secured at their ends to the guide heads 20 will pass within and at considerable distance from the end stretching bars 16. The end stretching bars and the guide heads 1% form a stretching frame extended laterally across the frame and slidable thereon in a longitudinal direction from its lower end to a point adjacent the bolts 9. The side stretching bars 22 and guide heads 20 form two stretching frames extending from end to end of the frame and independently slidable thereon from the sides to near the center thereof as will be understood.

An end piece 23 is secured on the outer face of the upper end 5 of the frame 1 between the sides 2 and 3 and is arcuate or substantially semicircular in cross section and is disposed with its convex face turned outwardly or upwardly as shown. This end piece may be of metal or wood as desired. Connecting yokes 24 of metal bent to a U-shaped form are secured at their ends or by their legs to the upper ends of the side Stretching bars 22 and extend loosely over the no 22 of each side stretching frame. Strips 25 of carding cloth or heavy fabric are secured to the outer faces of the end stretching bars 16 from end to end thereof and have the usual article engaging points or pins 26 directed outwardly as shown. In similar manner strips 27 of carding cloth are secured to the side stretching bars 22 and extend from the'lower ends of the bars on one side of the side stretching frame upwardly over and around the connecting yokes 24 and downward to the lower ends of the bars on the other sides of the said frames as shown in Figure 6, the article engaging points or pins 28 of these strips 27 being also directed outwardly. The carding cloth employed is of usual form and the strips thereof may be secured to the stretching bars-in any suitable manner as by tacks 29, or by the usual binding strips and screws (not shown). The clearance between the stretching bars 22 and the end stretching bars 16 due tothe difference in the width of the frame ends 4 and 5 and the sides 2 and 3 as aforesaid is sumcient to prevent the points 28 on the strips 27 from engaging the end bars 16 and this clearance is maintained at all times by flanges or strips 30 secured along the outer margins of the bars 22 and extending outwardly into sliding contact with said bars 16.

A guide frame 31 is provided comprising spaced bars 32 secured at their ends to the frame sides 2 and 3 and extending laterally across the frame adjacent the upper ends of the slots 13 in the sides and passing within the side stretching bars 22; These bars 32 are grooved longitudinally along their inner sides as at 33 for a purpose to be described. Bearing plates 34 are secured across the margins of the bars 32 centrally thereon and a similar bearing plate 35 is secured across the lower end 401 the frame 1 at a medial point thereon, all of said bearing plates having aligned apertures 36 through which is journaled an operating shaft 3'7 having an enlarged head 38 at its lower or outer end. A spur gear 39 is secured to the inner end of the shaft 37 between the bearing plates 34 and of course between the bars 32 and meshes with racks 46 and 41 slidably mounted in the groves 33 of said bars. The outer end of the rack is secured to a member 42 passing within the side bar 32 in the grove of which said rack is mounted and in turn secured at its ends to cross pieces 43 secured between the side stretching bars 22 of the left side stretching frame, said rack 40 being thus secured to and carried by this stretching frame. In the same manner the rack 41 is secured at its outer end,

to a. member 44 extended between cross pieces 45, carried by the side stretching frame on the right. It will thus be evident that by turning the gear 39 the racks 40 and 41 will be drawn inwardly or forced apart and likewise the side stretching frames will be drawn inwardly toward one another or pushed outwardly toward the sides of the frame 1. This rotationof the gear 39 is brought about by a crank 46 having its hub 47 journaled loosely on the operating shaft 37 but having lugs 48 at one end adapted to beengaged with notches 49 in the head 38 of the shaft to rotate the shaft as the crank is turned.

A worm 50 having a bore 51 from end to end is journaled loosely by this bore on the shaft 37 and extends between the bearing plates 34 and 35 and is secured against axial displacement thereby. At its outer or lower end the worm 50 is reduced and extended through the bearing plate side I end piece 23 whereby they connect the said bars 35 and has an enlarged head 52 having notches 53 in its end face with which lugs 54 on the crank hub 47 may he engaged to rotate the worm by the crank 46. It will be noted that the distance between the heads 38 and 52 of the shaft 37 and worm 50 is such that the crank may be engaged with either head alone or may turn freely therebetween. A nut or bushing 55 is secured centrally between the end stretching bars 16 and has a threaded bore 56 through which the worm 50 is threaded and it will thus be seen that the end stretching frame formed by the bars 16 may be moved longitudinally on the frame toward or away from the end 4 thereof by engaging the crank with the work 50 and properly turning said crank. The end' 4 of the frame bears :1 scale 57 to designate the distance between the two side stretching frames and the end 2 has a scale 58 to designate the length or distance from one end stretching bar 16 up and over the frame 1 and down to the other bar 16, the said scales of course reading in inches and serving a purpose readily understood. The end and side stretching frames may be suitably braced to prevent bending and sagging as designated by the stay wires 59 or in any suitable manner.

In use the end and side stretching frames are adjusted to substantially the length and width of the curtain to be stretched and the frame 1 is swung to a substantially horizontal position with the end 4 nearest the operator. The curtain, indicated fragmentally in Figure 1 at A, is then hooked or engaged at one end with the points 26 on uppermost end stretching bar 16 andthe sides are likewise engaged with the points 28 on the side stretching bars 22. As the operator progresses toward the end 5 the frame is swung to and beyond a vertical position toward the operator and the curtain is drawn over the rounded end piece 23 and its sides hooked on the bars 22 on the other side of the frame until the other end of the frame is reached. This end is hooked on the other end stretching bar 16 and all margins of the curtains are then engaged with the stretching frames. The operator then engages the crank 46 first with theshaft 37 a-ndthen with the worm 50 and operates each to stretch the curtain both longitudinally and laterally as will be understood. Additional curtains may be placed on the frame one over the other and all stretched at once. It will be noted that this operation is easily and quickly performed and does not require the operator moving from end to end of the frame as is usually the case, it being simply necessary for the operator to step a pace forward or back as the frame 1 is turned in its stand.

The stretcher may be placed in a suitable case or housing 60 which may be of any suitable construction and of such size as to accommodate any number of stretchers In commercial installations this case 60 may be arranged to act as a drier for quickly drying the curtains and for home use the case may be used as a table top with folding legs or may be built in or on the wall. Other uses, arrangements and advantages of my stretcher will be readily understood without further description herein.

While I have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of my invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details 20 as best to construct a practical device for the purposes intended, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, a stand, a supporting frame pivotally supported in the said stand, an end stretching frame slidably mounted on the supporting frame, a pair of side stretching frames slidably mounted on the frame, racks extended from the side stretching frames, an operating shaft, a gear on the operating shaft meshing with the said racks, a nut secured to the end stretching frame, a Worm journaled on side stretching flames slidahly mounted frond end to end of the name, and means for adjusting the end and side stretching member outward or inwardly from the sides and ends of the frames, and connecting yokes secured to one end of each side stretching member and slidably embracing the said arcuate end piece.

3. In a device of the kind described, a frame, end stretching bars mounted for sliding movement on the frame, a threaded bushing mounted between the end stretching bars, side stretching bars mounted on the frame for sliding movement on the frame at right angles to the end stretching bars, gear racks extended inward from the said side stretching bars, a gear disposed between the racks, and operating means cooperating with the threaded bushing and gear for sliding adjustment of the stretching bars.

a. In a device of the kind described, a frame, end stretching bars mounted for sliding movement on the frame, a threaded bushing mounted between the end stretching bars, side stretching bars mounted on the frame for sliding movement on the frame at right angles to the end stretching bars, gear racks extended inward from the said side stretching bars, a gear disposed between the racks, and operating means cooperating with the threaded bushing and gear for sliding adjustment of the stretching bars, the said operating means comprising a worm threaded through the bushing and having a longitudinal bore, a shaft jcurnaied through the bore of the worm and con ected to the gear, a crank adapted for selective engagement with either the Worm or shaft.

5. in a device of the hind described, a frame including longitudinally sloted sides and ends, guide heads slidably mounted in the said slots,- end stretching bars secured at their ends to the guide heads on the sides of the frame, side stretching bars secured to the guide heads on the ends of the frame, an arcuate end piece mounted on one end of the frame, and rigid U- shaped connecting yokes secured at their ends to the adjacent ends of the side stretching bars and slidably straddling the said arcuate end piece.

ALBERT C. KULP. 

